> I
> had faith in what he said, did not have any more tests, and it wasn't until
> two years after the onset of my symptoms that I went to another neuro. My
> faith in him did me no good. You have to have a Dr that gives you a reason
> to
> have faith in him or her.
>
> Nancy
Personally, I'd reserve "faith" for God alone -- He's the only One Who is
infallible.
I think doctors can earn a certain amount of respect and trust by the way they
handle patients and the information and help they impart -- as you said,
he/she has to give you a reason to trust him/her. There was a time I would've
been intimidated by them and accepted everything they said or did, even if I
didn't feel assured in my own mind. These days I don't necessarily go in with
an attitude of mistrust, but I do tend to ask a lot of questions and research
things on my own when possible. There are some times you can't do that -- in
an emergency or of you are incapacitated in the hospital.
Anyway, I guess the main point is to be balanced. You have to be informed and
sometimes aggressive, but I don't think it helps to look on doctors, neuros in
particular, as "idiots" or "enemies". Some may have an inflated sense of their
own importance or knowledge or authority, some are uncaring, some are only
punching a clock until retirement....but I think most of them are truly trying
to help within the limitations of human fallibility and imperfection.
I don't mean to sound over-sensitive on this point and haven't really meant to
go on and on ...just responding to the various comments. I wasn't sure if all
the negative comments about neuros were meant as jokes. The way I look at the
whole picture is this: the doctor is not a stand-in for God, but he is also
not an adversary. We're partners together in getting the information and
treatment needed.
Barbara H.